Ladder.



N. H. TURNER.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR-27. 1915.

Patented Nov; 30, 1915.

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N. H. TURNER.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED Amzz, 1915.

1,162,000, 1 Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

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LADDER. I

' Specification of Letters Patent. I PatentedNovBO, 1915..

Application filed April 27, 1915. Serial No. 24,288.

of which-the following is a specification.

An object of the invention is to provide a ladder which will insure the person climbing the same against accidental tilting of the ladder; which can be used in the nature of a scaffold and which also is conveniently adapted for use in interior or'exterior work and particularly useful in enablingpersons to remove fruit from the'high portions of trees.

The invention comprehends, among other features, the provision of a ladderhaving a suitable base or stabilizing portion and ladder sections upstanding therefrom, with the ladder sections adjustable with respect to the base so that the desired inclination can be obtained inorder to prevent accidental tilting of the ladder'sections when a person climbs up the rungs thereof.

Still further objects of the invention reside inga ladder which can be quickly set up and'as readily taken down and in which certain-adjustments permit of placing the ladder in operative position upon surfaces that are not entirely smooth or even. 7

In the further disclosure ofthe invention reference is to'be had to the accompanying drawings, constituting a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts-in all the views, and in which: V Figure 1-is a sideelevation of the ladder showing the same in position for use and also indicating the manner in which it can be used as a scaffold; Fig. 2 is an end view; Fig. 3 is another end view; Fig. 4c is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the adjustable base.

Referring more particularly to theiviews,

I employ a ladder body 10 preferably consisting of superposed connected ladder sections 11, the upper end of the lower ladder section being provided with longitudinal slots 12 in which is adapted to be fitted the ends of a cross bar 13 upon the upper ladder section 11, with the lower ends of the upper ladder section provided with slots 14 fitting into one of the rungs 15 of the lower ladder section, a suitable handled nut l6 being threaded'on the cross bar 13 whereby, when the nutis'screwed up against the face of the lowerlaolder section, it will rigidly hold the upper ladder section in locked relation to the former. The lower end of the lower ladder section is provided with transverse slots 17 in which is received thecross piece 18 of a base 19 including upwardly inclined brace arms 20 and the lower ladder section is provided with a cross bar 21 which constitutes one of the usual rungs 15, but has its ends projecting beyond; the sides of the ladder sections. The upper ends of the bracing arms 20 areformed with eyes through which the projecting ends of the cross bar 21 pass and transverse pins 23 pass through openings 24: in the projectingends of the crossbar'21'to hold the eyes 22of the arms 30 against accidental removal from the cross ar. t

A cross bar 25 similar to the cross bar 13 is arranged near the lower end of the lower apparent that when the'base19 is removed the prop section can be swung downwardly -into.vertical alinementwith the ladder sections 11 to'form a continuous part thereof and provide the usual straight ladder. In

the present instance, however,the prop section 26 is used as a'means for insuring the proper stability necessary in order that the ladder body can be climbed by a person, and Y to this end the prop section has one of its rungs 28 in thenature of a cross bar, with its ends pro ecting beyond the sides ofthe prop section and provided with openings 29 "through which are adapted to pass suitable pins 30.

An adjustable brace 31 is provided and consists particularly of a screw 32 having its inner end swiveled to a head 33 and provided with a handle 34. the other end of the screw being in threaded engagement with a head 35, the heads 33 and 35 being somewhat similar and each having a plurality of 7 .arms 36 mounted to swing thereon, with the arms of each head relatively diverging and formed at their ends with eyes 37, the upper arms of the adjustable brace being adapted to have the extremities of the cross bar 21 pass therethrough, with the lower arms hav ing the extremities of the rung 28 passing through vthe eyes of the lower arms.

Now it will be clearly seen that there is provided a connection between the ladder body and the prop section and which connection is efiected a distance from the points of pivotal connection of the lower ladder section with the prop section. It will be further apparent that by turning the handle 34 the inclination of the ladder body and the base supporting the same can be increased or decreased with respect to the prop section as desired, and with this characterof structure it will be clear that the ladder described may be used on an uneven ground even in instances where the free end of the prop section will be on v a higher plane than the inner end thereof,

the adjustable brace 1 permitting of an inclination of the ladder body toward the prop section in the latter instance and which inclination is sufficient to stabilize the entire structure when a person climbs up the ladder body, it being'of course understood that the connection between the upper arms of the brace and the ladder body and the lower arms of the brace and the prop section is one which permits of a swinging of the brace as it is adj ustcd by means of a screw 82. It will also be apparent that the prop section can be arranged to extend to the left of the ladder body or to the right thereof as desired, this being particularly facilitated by the provision of the cross bayonet slots 27 in the inner ends of the prop section and which prevent accidental slipping of the inner end of the prop section out of engagement with the cross bar at the lower end of the lower ladder section.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a ladder, the combination with a ladder body and a prop, section, a base, side arms on the base, a cross bar on the ladder body and having the side arms of the base connected thereto, and an adjustable brace in swinging connection with the prop section and with the crossbar of the ladder body whereby the inclination of the ladder body can be increased or decreased relatively to said prop section.

2. In combination with a ladder body and a prop section. therefor, a'b'race comprising an upper head, arms mounted to swing on the upper head and connecting with the ladder body, a lower head, arms mounted to swing on the lower head and connecting with the prop section, and a screw swiveled in the upper head and in threaded engagement with the lower head whereby said heads can be moved toward or away from each other to increase or decrease the inclination of said ladder body relatively to said prop section.

3. In combination with a ladder body and a prop section therefor, a brace comprising an upper head, arms mounted to swing on the upper head and connecting with the ladder body, a lower head, arms mounted to swing on the lower head and connecting with the prop section, a screw swiveled in the upper head and in threaded engagement with the lower head whereby'said heads can be moved toward or away from each other to increase or decrease the inclination of said ladder'body relatively to said prop section, and a handle on one end of said screw for operating the same,

4. In combination with a ladder body and a prop section therefor, a brace comprising an upper head, arms mounted to swing on the upper head and connecting with the ladder body, a lower head, arms mounted to swing on the lower head and connecting with the prop section, a screw swiveled in the upper head and in threaded engagement with the lower head whereby said heads can be moved toward or away from each'other to increase or decrease the inclination of NEWVTON H. TURNER.

Witnesses:

U. S. G. FINKBINER,

CLARA FREY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

